Mandatory Death Audits for Road Accident Victims in West Bengal
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Kolkata, Dec 18 (NationPress) Death Audits concerning fatalities resulting from road transport accidents (RTAs) will be mandated in West Bengal, following a new directive from the state’s Health Department.
This resolution was reached during a meeting of the Chief Medical Officers of Health (CMOH) on December 16, after which the Deputy Director of Health Services formalized the directive.
"As per the guidance of the Principal Secretary in the CMOH Review Meeting held on 16.12.2024 at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, it has been resolved that every fatality due to an RTA must undergo an audit at the facility level henceforth," the order stated, a copy of which is held by IANS.
According to the order, all directors and principals of medical colleges and hospitals, along with district CMOHs and deputy CMOHs, are tasked with ensuring that death audits are conducted for all casualties resulting from RTAs, with a compiled report to be submitted to the state Health Department headquarters every Monday by 12 noon.
Sources within the State Health Department clarified that a death audit entails maintaining comprehensive records from the moment the injured individual is admitted to the medical facility following the incident, documenting the treatment and medical care provided, and ultimately the cause of death.
"Compiled reports will be logged in the state Health Department portal," the sources added.
They emphasized the importance of conducting the death audit, in addition to the mandatory post-mortem report for RTA fatalities.
"Post-mortem reports typically only outline the causes of death. In contrast, the death audit report will encompass all pertinent records related to the victim and the accident, which can lead to improved medical responses for future victims," they explained.
Moreover, death audits will assist the state Health Department in gaining a clearer understanding of the available infrastructure within health facilities to manage such road accident cases.
